UPDATE: South Knoxville Apartment Fire

Knoxville (WVLT) -- Knoxville fire crews now way an overnight fire in South Knoxville was the work of an arson.

Investigators have identified a few people of interest in the case.

Just before mid-night, KFD responded to the apartment at the Southmont Apartments on East Moody Avenue.

Witnesses say they heard a boom and saw heavy metal flames right after the fire broke out.

"We have two apartments that are completely gutted, even the roof is gone over those two apartments," said Capt. Darrell Whitaker of the Knoxville Fire Department. "Crews did a very good job preventing the fire from going and proceeding down the entire complex."

Firefighters say they smelled a chemical odor and called the HAZ-MAT team to the scene.

The investigation is still ongoing and a sample has been sent to an arson lab for tests.

No one was hurt in the fire but several families were left without apartments.

KFD say's those families will likely not return home until Monday.

In the mean time, the Red Cross of Knoxville has placed 15 people in motel rooms for the weekend.

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